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之中 (zhī zhōng) — (literary) inside; among; during (the scope of something)

Definition

A literary 'in / among / during' used after a noun; more formal than 之中's everyday counterpart 里面 or 之中's pattern 之中. Read 之中 as 之中 only in writing — speech usually prefers 之中 or 之中.

noun
(literary) insideamongduring (the scope of something)

Examples

  • 之中，。
    Zài rén qún zhī zhōng, wǒ zhǎo dào le wǒ de péng you.
    Among the crowd, I found my friend.
  • 之中，。
    Cóng zhè xiē shuǐ guǒ zhī zhōng, wǒ xuǎn le píng guǒ.
    From among these fruits, I chose apples.
  • 之中，。
    Zài tán huà zhī zhōng, wǒ men liǎo jiě le hěn duō.
    During the conversation, we learned a lot.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

之zhīof
中zhōnginside

The 'of' sense of 之 joins with 中 ('inside') to mean inside or among.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →
Appears in
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